The official national three-year cohort default rate for 2010 is 14.7 percent, an increase from the 13.4 percent three-year rate for the 2009 cohort. The official national two-year cohort default rate for 2011 is 10 percent, up from the official two-year rate of 9.1 percent recorded for the 2010 cohort.

This year marks the second in which the U.S. Department of Education issued official default rates for a three-year cohort. The Department is transitioning to the three-year measurement from the two-year rate.

In a news release issued Monday by the Department, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said, “The growing number of students who have defaulted on their federal student loans is troubling.

“The Department will continue to work with institutions and borrowers to ensure that student debt is affordable. We remain committed to building a shared partnership with states, local governments, institutions, and students — as well as the business, labor, and philanthropic leaders — to improve college affordability for millions of students and families.”